When We’re Not Reading – Pow Wow Adventures!
Today we went to Trader’s Village where we attended the 23rd Annual Texas Championship Native American Pow Wow. Singing, dancing, bright colors, people, and corn in a cup… what more could a girl want?
So many people were gathered to honor Native American Indian culture today, and to dance for a $15,000 prize. The young man featured above picture was dressed to the nines and dancing his heart out when the drums were going. The entire competition was pretty awesome.
There were a few times Kiddo was moving and grooving and clapping to the beat. And every time we took a break from sitting in the stands, we were able to get pictures with some of the friendly competitors.
Books are wonderful sources for information, but when it comes down to it I want Kiddo to go out into the world and experience first hand what she reads about in books. In honor of our adventure today, we’re reading Pocahontas: Princess of the River Tribes
I definitely plan to take her to this event every year, as it is only $3 to park and free to attend.
Halloween at Half Price Books
HPB Humble Location
Story time, typically Wednesdays at 10:30 am, was stretched out over the course of 2 hours today (9 am – 11 am) in honor of one of the biggest costume days of the year. Good thing too, because our most interested little patrons came in early.
Equipped with a candy bowl, coloring sheets, crayons, and a few costumed employees who were more than happy to pose for the camera in their book-themed attire, story time commenced bright and early.
There are many versions of Snow White
Another bookseller, Veronica, promoted Astrid Lindgren’s young adult character Pippi Longstockings
If you are in the area and missed this bit of fun, be sure to check out Baldwin Boettcher’s Halloween Event this evening at 6:30 pm. Baldwin Boettcher is the public library inside the gates of the Mercer Arboretum off Aldine Westfield. It’s a hidden treasure of a library that often gets passed on the way to the botanical gardens with little thought to the fun things that may be happening indoors. And remember: It is never too late to celebrate your love for a fantastic book character.
If you missed this morning’s story time, and already have plans this evening, here are the books we enjoyed this morning. Maybe you can find copies and read them with your kiddo in the days to come as you sort out their candy haul.
1. A Pop-Up Trick or Treat book called Halloween Bugs
2. A Pull and Poke book called Pat the Beastie
3. And my favorite, a Halloween Adventure called One Spooky Night
The Guardians of Childhood
*A Weekly Low Down on Kids Books*
Title: The Man in the Moon
Author: William Joyce
I clearly have an artistic and literary crush on the fabulous writer and illustrator of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore! William Joyce’s work is simply beautiful, spunky, cozy, and classic.
During story time at Half Price Books in Humble, I was very pleased to discover a pile of The Man in the Moon on the shelf this morning, the first of many in Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood series. It seems as though Joyce’s work, despite being lengthy, is just the remedy for a squirmy, whiny toddler. One look at these gorgeous illustrations and immediately stillness and wonder ensues.
Joyce presents the myths of childhood in a way that a child will understand that they are beautiful dreams to enjoy, a fantasy to embrace. Kids and and adults alike cannot tear their eyes away from the colorful and powerful images he creates, and all are equally riveted by the presenation of the tales.
I am coming to cherish my time reading these books to the kiddo and I cannot wait to acquire the others in this amazing series:
Buy your own collection of Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood today!
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books – and other things
Title: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Authors: William Joyce and Joe Bluhm
With great reluctance, I turned this book back into the library yesterday on our way to the Miller Outdoor Theatre to see a live *free* production of Cinderella. Cinderella actually has no relevance to this story/review, I just wanted to throw that in there because the whole adventure was pretty awesome, we even rode a train.
“Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.”
But not every story is so beautifully written and illustrated. For the last two weeks, kiddo has been getting a daily dose of Mr. Lessmore, not just because I thought it was so fantastic, but because she thought it was pretty awesome too. Flying books!? It doesn’t get much better for that for a kid.
Shamefully, I have to admit that if I hadn’t read this book to my daughter, she may have forever missed out on Humpty Dumpty – merely because I am so busy sharing books with her that I often forget the nursery rhymes. Yet, Humpty Dumpty is alive and well in Mr. Lessmore’s world, so thankfully, that is one she will not miss out on.
Mr. Morris Lessmore is also a good way to introduce a small child to the issues of aging, life, and death. It’s a beautiful story of a man’s life with books, and like all men do, he grows old and passes. Presented with a combination of calm serenity and passion, this story kept in a child’s library could be a little piece of fantasy and reality which their subconscious can cling to forever.
Part way through the very excellent play that I did not want to disrupt, kiddo got the urge to run. Cinderella still going strong in the distance.
Now, I am aware that I teased you a bit with that Cinderella business, so I suppose I cannot leave you hanging. This falls a bit under the When We’re Not Reading parts of my blog, but still encourages literacy and the arts. A.D. Players did a William Glennon play at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park yesterday morning. The weather was perfect as it kept teasing us with rain, but never did. The breeze was blowing, and there are so many things to do around the park that if/when your kiddos get antsy, its easy to take them for a walk or train ride.
To give you a full idea of how awesome these productions are, however, I am going to simply share with you a blurb from the program:
Founded in 1967 by Jeannette Clift George, A.D. Players pioneered a unique style of theater committed to producing plays and programs that uphold human value, offer creativity, and promote literacy and education. The company is one of Houston’s largest resident theater companies, impacting more than nine million people. Annually, the company produces five Mainstage shows and four Children’s Theater shows, and maintains a year-round Theater Arts Academy.
We share our mission with volunteers, community associates, and those who make our work possible through their support. For additional information, visit www.adplayers.org or call 713-526-2721.
Pretty neat, right?
My *Sometimes* Weekly Low Down on Kids…
…Books…
An oldie but a goodie, kiddo picked up my old, ratty copy of Are You My Mother?
Are You My Mother? is fabulous for its repetition of the names of the animals. Two in October, she loves repeating nouns and discovering what things are called. As the little bird searches for his mother (and kiddo, startled says “Mommy? Where’d she go?” as we turn each page), he comes across a hen, a cow, and other animals. I’m very partial to the illustration of the dog featured on the front cover.
…Activities…
A great way to entertain a tactile child learning to count is to take a Tupperware container of dried beans and hand them a small bowl. They’ll spend a solid thirty minutes sorting and resorting the beans from container to container, pouring, touching, and lining them up in rows. If you have time to sit with them, its easy to go through their numbers and show them how to count the beans. Its great fun, and easy to clean up any mess with a broom or a handy household dog.
Also, in our house, we love to dance. I got a Ceremonial and War Dance
That’s it for this week. Tune in next week and I may have some more Weekly Low Downs on Kids somethings to share.
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books 7/25/12
Title: But Who Will Bell the Cats?
Author: Cynthia Von Buhler
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
In 2009, I distinctly remember coming across an ad for this book (maybe from my days of stalking shelfari for hours on end). I sat clicking though the website (click book cover and it will take you there) thinking it was so cool and eerie. Finally, this year – this month actually – I had the pleasure of reading But Who Will Bell the Cats? to my kiddo. It is so wonderful.
Based on an Aesop’s Fable, But Who Will Bell the Cats? follows the adventures of a mouse and bat as they try to get bells around the necks of the royal princess’s eight cats. If they could hear the cats approaching, there would be more freedoms and amenities available to them around the palace, they would no longer be confined to the cellar in fear.
The story is a lovely twist on a classic dilemma with beautiful and riveting images not limited by your typical 2D art. Von Buhler has made real sets for paper dolls and photographed them, making the art fascinating, unique, and a little bit intense:
In addition to having written this story, I was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. I photographed the scenes with a Nikon D300.
– Cynthia Von Buhler
(Browse through each part of the castle/book and how it was made: http://butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com/2008/06/portraits.html)
We love it, and it is a great story to read right before nap time (due to the length on each page, you really need a settled kiddo to hold their attention if they are under two). For older kids, the website offers all sorts of activities and games to tie into the book, including printable paper dolls, like the ones used to make the book! Visit: http://butwhowillbellthecats.com/lookinside.html
Title: The Wishing Star
Author: M. Christina Butler
Illustrator: Frank Endersby
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Today at the story time at Half Price Books in Humble, a little girl picked this title out for me to read. We all enjoyed it so much, her mother bought it before leaving the store.
Endersby’s art work is so lovely and eye-catching. Reminiscent of the Rainbow Fish
Together, they created magic.
Summer Reading Programs – July 2012 Update
Feed Your Brain display at Half Price Books in Humble
I’m proud to say that my little kiddo sat through all of her 500 minutes of reading time and then some, earning herself a certificate signed by the State Librarian and a free book from the library. Harris County Public Libraries have a fun little system going, and it has been fun logging all our minutes read over the last few weeks for the Get a Clue program.
In addition to that, Half Price Books has a summer reading program as well called Feed Your Brain. Reading time is supposed to be done during the months of June and July, but its not too late to get started now and earn prizes for both programs.
To help your kids earn their minutes, bring them along to Wednesday story time at Half Price Books Humble at 10:30 am. Books are read until we get tired (usually around 11:00 am, but if we’ve got a good attention span out of the kids that day, we may stretch it to 11:15 or so). Every now and then we are privileged enough to have children’s authors read their own book aloud and stay for a book signing. Snacks are always provided.
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books 6/26/12
One Watermelon Seed
One Watermelon Seed reminded me of another recent favorite:Seed Savers: Treasure
Story Time Party With M.G. King
With summer in full gear, story time at Half Price Books in Humble has become a force to be reckoned with, but mostly because M.G. King is quite possibly one of the coolest ladies I’ve ever met and she was kind enough to do a reading and book signing in place of the usual kid’s story time on Wednesday.
There was a fun little song, a reading of Librarian on the Roof!
Make your own poof book! http://www.vickiblackwell.com/makingbooks/poofbook.htm
Read my review of Librarian on the Roof! https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/weekly-low-down-on-kids-books-31312/
Anakalian Whims 